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About Me
I am a physician and behavioral scientist. My research and writing explore the quirks in human nature that influence our lives -- the mixture of rational and irrational forces that affect our health, our happiness, and the way our society functions. (more...)- Have a question or just want to get in touch? Email me at peter.ubel@duke.edu
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Tag Archives: doctor-patient communication
Discussing Financial Toxicity in Oncology Settings
The American Society of Clinical Oncology is one of the leading specialty organizations for physicians who take care of patients with cancer. A reporter from ASCO just wrote a nice piece, in which she questioned me to go into more … Continue reading
More Discussion about Discussing Out-Of-Pocket Costs
In the wake of my recent New York Times op-ed, and other writing about patient out-of-pocket costs, I was interviewed by Tammy Worth, a writer at Renal and Urology News. She did a great job of exploring this controversial topic. … Continue reading
Posted in Medical Decision Making
Tagged doctor-patient communication, healthcare costs
Getting Good Cancer Care by Asking the Right Questions
Not long ago, I spoke with a freelance journalist, Charlotte Huff, who put together a really nice article in Cancer Today, describing how cancer patients can get more engaged in their care. I thought I would share a bit of that … Continue reading
Posted in Medical Decision Making
Tagged doctor-patient communication, shared decision making
If Batman Was Your Doctor
I thought I would pass along this hilarious cartoon, suggesting a new way to “nudge” patients to use fewer antibiotics. Of course that nudge requires your doctor to be Batman, and Batman to be a pretty assertive type of physician: … Continue reading
Posted in Miscellaneous
Tagged doctor-patient communication
Are You Getting Too Much Medical Care?
This summer I had the pleasure of speaking with a very intelligent journalist, who was working on an article about overtreatment in medical care. That article has just come out, and I thought I would give you a sample of … Continue reading
Posted in Medical Decision Making
Tagged doctor-patient communication, medical decision making
Why Discussing the Cost of an MRI to Evaluate Knee Pain Can Be a Total Pain
I want to share a wonderful blog post with you, written by one of “my” students, Laura Mortimer – a student in the Masters in Public Policy program at the Sanford School at Duke, who also happens to be a talented … Continue reading
Posted in Medical Decision Making
Tagged doctor-patient communication, healthcare costs
Newsweek Tackles the Challenge of Money Talk
In response to the New England Journal article I published with Yousuf Zafar and Amy Abernethy, Newsweek chimed in this week with a report on the topic, including some thoughtful commentary from other medical experts. I thought it was worth … Continue reading
Posted in Medical Decision Making
Tagged doctor-patient communication, healthcare costs
Doctor, First Tell Me What It Costs
If an antibiotic would cure your infection, your doctor would probably still warn you about the chance of sun sensitivity before prescribing the pill. But even when the costs of a medical intervention might force patients to choose between paying the bill … Continue reading
Can Comics Improve Medical Care?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTRvoQGBs0Y”
Take a look at this wonderful video where a physician and a nurse explain how comic books, what they called “graphic medicine”, can improve medical care. You might also want to check out the website of the graphic medicine collaborative they have … Continue reading
Posted in Miscellaneous
Tagged doctor-patient communication, ethics
Toxic Side Effect: High Out-of-Pocket Health Care Costs
When is the treatment worse than the disease? When the high costs associated with care become a financial burden for patients and in many cases prevent them from protecting their health, contends Peter Ubel, MD, a 2007 recipient of a … Continue reading